Rand's Reading Review, #1

[Rand al'Thor]

Well, since the board seems pretty stagnant right now, I thought I'd let you good people know what I've been reading lately. If you feel like reading a good book, just listen to Rand, the one-man bookworm http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm/read.gif.

Review #1
Author: Piers Anthony
Title : A Spell for Chameleon
Genre : Fantasy (non-epic)
Pages : 344, paperback

If you like fantasy novels, and you are looking for a quick, light-hearted book, I would try this one. Piers Anthony is wonderfully funny in this book, and he paints a great picture of the magical world of Xanth. Everything on Xanth seems to be magical in one way or another, even the people.

This is the basis for the whole story. Our hero, Bink, is without magic. It is almost his 25th birthday, and if he doesn't discover his magical talent, he will be exiled. Bink's quest to discover his talent leads him all over (and out of) Xanth and into some frightening perils. He must escape the Gap Dragon and confront the evil Magician Trent, while saving the kingdom from destruction. And of course the story wouldn't be complete unless Bink found love, whoch he does.

Anthony takes a light-hearted look at fantasy, so if you're looking for something serious, like Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind, Piers Anthony is probably not the author for you. If you want some humor and satire, while staying in a world full of magic, dragons, heros, and villians, try this book out.

Rand's Rating: 7, out of 10 stars

Rand al'Thor
The Dragon Reborn

 

[CreamyLady]

It was very good; the only one of the Xanth novels that I really enjoyed (not usually a fantasy person).

 

[Merelan]

I read the first 6 or so, but they got stagnant and boring after awhile. Reread Spell a couple monthes agao and still liked it. How many are there now? 50? 100? Too many.
Ever read his Infinity series?

 

[Rand al'Thor]

There are quite a few Xanth novels, but I've only read A Spell for Chameleon. I purchased Ogre, Ogre, buthave not read it yet. Xanth doesn't seem like a setting you'd want to read too many books in. All the magic and light-heartedness would get old after a while.

I haven't read his Infinity series. I'm trying not to start any new series, because I'm already in the middle of a few:

http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm/read.gifRobert Jordan, The Wheel of Time
http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm/read.gifDavid Drake, Lord of the Isles
http://smilecwm.tripod.com/cwm/read.gifStephen King, The Dark Tower

Rand al'Thor
The Dragon Reborn

 

[Patryn]

Ugh...Steven King. I used to like his work, but it's gone stagnant. The only thing recent of his that I've read is the Green Mile, which was pretty good, but then there was Desperation and that other book he released with it. Heh...so memorable I can't even think of the name. Anyway, they were nearly exact copies of each other, and he just released them both for money.

As far as the Gunslinger series, I lost interest when it took him 80 years to put out the next in the series. By that time, I'd already forgotten the story, and didn't want to go back and read 3 huge books just to catch up.

 

[CreamyLady]

I always look for anything by Terry Pratchett. I laughed myself sick all the way through Hogfather.

 

[Aranian]

Robert Jordan's first works were of excellent quality. However, his writing began to degrade in his later books. By the time I started Crown of Swords, his long-windedness was putting me to sleep on a regular basis. TOR did a lousy job putting Jordan's books to print. In addition making them difficult to handle, on every single one of my RJ books, the spine's broken or cover has separated because they packed 1200+ pages into a single paperback volume.

David Drake's Lord of the Isles was subaverage fare for the sci-fi/fantasy field. It was relatively unimaginative and ended on an inconclusive note that practically oozed with the promise for a sequel. Fortunately, one never came. Drake ought to stick with his futuristic tank series'.

 

[Expertise]

Is it just me or is there a completely diproportionate number of sci-fi/fantasy fans on this BB.

Just an observation not a condemnation.

 

[Weird Harold]

David Drake's Lord of the Isles was subaverage fare for the sci-fi/fantasy field. It was relatively unimaginative and ended on an inconclusive note that practically oozed with the promise for a sequel. Fortunately, one never came. Drake ought to stick with his futuristic tank series'.

The sequel is _Queen of Demons_ and the third book just released in paperback is _Servant of the Dragon_

Granted, Lord of the Isles and it's sequels aren't the greatest fantasy going, but it's far from the worst I've read.

For those who like the Wheel of Time, check out the _Fionovar Tapestry_ by Guy Gevriel Kay. (A trilogystarting with _Summer Tree_)

For those with an interest in stories based on Asian mythologies, _Initate Brother_ and _Gatherer of Clouds by Sean Russel is a good duology.

_Tomoe Gozen_ (and two seequels) by Jesica Amanda Salmonson is an even better look into Japanese mythology.

I'm currently rereading the _Earth's Children) series by Jane M. Auel. (_Clan of The Cave Bear_ and sequels.)

For those not into Science Fiction and Fantasy, The _North and South_ Trilogy by John Jakes is riveting, and much better than the TV miniseries. Anything by John Jakes is worth reading.

For Space Opera Fans, The Honor Harrington series is excellent, as are the Miles Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold, And the Familias Regnant stories by Elizabeth Moon.

Cat fanciers might like the _Gahatti's Tale_ and sequels by Gayle Greeno -- Science Fiction, but a good read for those who wish they could communicate better with their cats.

Expertise,

I don't think there is a disproportionate number of Science Fiction and Fantasy fans here. I think it's just a manefestation of SF/Fantasy fans general sillingness to share good reads with other fans.

Rand,

_A Spell For Chameleon_ is indeed a good read. The entire Xanth Trilogy (Anthony claims he's numerically challenged which accounts for stuffing 20 some volumes into a "trilogy") Is a lot of fun to read. It's not something that's good for a reading binge though. That dosage of puns could cause serious mental damage if the whole series were to be read back to back. <G>

 

[Aranian]

I stand corrected.

Funny that you didn't hit a single one of my choices in the list. Let me try:

Wheel of Time similarity - The Deverry series by Kathrine Kerr follows the same sort of reincarnation theme but goes much, much deeper.

Western fantasy - Shanarra series by Terry Brooks is a classic, although the first in the series is acknowledged as a complete ripoff of JRR Tolken's lord of the rings.

Oldies - Jennifer Roberson's Sword Dancer series should be worthy of mention.

Non-scifi/fantasy - The Dragon and the Jewel by Virginia Henely is the pick of choice here. I'm still getting over the fact that it was published as a romance and not smut literature.

Space opera - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. No contest.

 

[April]

Cat fanciers might like the _Gahatti's Tale_ and sequels by Gayle Greeno -- Science Fiction, but a good read for those who wish they could communicate better with their cats.

Yes! Excellent series. I have read all except the latest which is on my shelf just waiting. They are just wonderful books.